Donald Trump's incoming national security adviser, retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, repeatedly called the Russian ambassador to the U.S. on the same day President Obama expelled 35 Russian diplomats in response to the Kremlin's reported election hacking, the Washington Post reported late Thursday.
The calls may have violated the federal Logan Act that bars Americans from attempting to influence a foreign government regarding "disputes" with the U.S. It remains unclear what Flynn discussed with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak on Dec. 29.
The day after the Obama administration announced it was blacklisting top officials in the Russian security services and imposing additional sanctions, President Vladimir Putin announced he would not retaliate. Trump praised Putin as "smart" for deciding against reprisals.
A Trump transition team official told the Post on Friday that Flynn had spoken with Kislyak about setting up a conversation between Trump and Putin after the inauguration.
The timing of the call raises concern, particularly given existing scrutiny of Trump and his team's potential ties to Russia.
Flynn, who served as a military adviser to Trump during the campaign, has been accused of being too close to the Kremlin. He once appeared on Kremlin propaganda network Russia Today and received a speaking fee from the outlet, according to the Post. Flynn shared a dinner table with Putin after he spoke at a Russia Today gala.
The Obama administration confirmed to the Associated Press it was aware of frequent contacts between Flynn and Kislyak.